Breaking News: Will the TSK take part in the task force in Gaza? Erdoğan answers the much-anticipated question

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had attended the Gaza summit in Egypt. Responding to journalists' questions on the plane upon his return from Egypt, Erdoğan gave messages regarding the agenda, as well as the ceasefire in Gaza.

In response to the question, "Will the Mehmetçik take part in the task force in Gaza?", Erdoğan said, "Evaluations regarding the structure of the task force are currently ongoing. There is very critical work that needs to be done in Gaza. Both construction and revitalization issues are important. We discussed the issue of 'Who can take on a role with us?' regarding construction work. We want and will continue to want support from everyone, from Gulf countries to European countries, especially America. We also discussed the issue of 'What can we do together?' regarding revitalization in the bilateral meetings we held with leaders. The initial impressions we received are not bad. They also say, 'We will take on our role here.' Hopefully, the promises made will be fulfilled," he replied.

The Q&A on the plane is as follows:

There have been many ceasefire agreements between Hamas and Israel before, but today's was very different from the others. There is talk of very broad international support and international oversight. In previous agreements, Israel was always the party that violated them. If such a situation happens this time, how do you foresee this crack being overcome? What is your prediction, especially in the context of this agreement?

First of all, it is important that this ceasefire is permanent and that no violations occur. As you know, Israel has a poor track record regarding ceasefire violations. This situation forces us to be more cautious and meticulous. Turkey, the US, and other countries are determined to maintain this ceasefire. Israel also knows that if it returns to genocide, the cost will be heavy. We express this clearly at every opportunity. Many agreements made in the past remained on paper. In addition to Israel's duplicitous attitude, the lack of sufficient determination was unfortunately also a factor. Now there is a stronger and joint will. We saw this common stance once again at the summit in Egypt. I believe that Mr. Trump, who also pioneered this process, will continue to protect it. These developments have now become the hope and wish not only of us, but also of the countries and peoples we walk with. No one can consent to a return to the past. Because this ceasefire was ensured by the conscience and common sense of societies.

You also mentioned it in your speech. Turkey is the country that provides the most aid. In fact, it does so not only here, but in many parts of the world, but after a while, when public interest wanes, aid unfortunately decreases. Yet, almost everything is needed in Gaza. Does Turkey have a long-term plan for this? How will this aid be provided? At the same time, Israel has some inspections on the aid. We are curious about your plan regarding this?

Beyond being a great state, Turkey is actually the conscience of humanity. Our hand reaches out wherever there is an oppressed person in the world. Even while Israeli attacks were continuing, we sent our aid to the region. We filled the warehouses in Egypt, we did not wait. Since the day the ceasefire began, a total of 350 of our trucks have entered Gaza. We are not just sending food, water, and medicine there. We are also sending brotherhood, we are sending hope. Medicine and shelter materials are being quickly dispatched to the region. We are in search of how we can quickly eliminate the effects of the humanitarian catastrophe. We currently have around 10 thousand tents stored there with our AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority). The reconstruction of Gaza is extremely important. We will work with all our might to meet the shelter needs of Gazans before winter comes. Of course, I thank the Turkish Red Crescent here. I thank our AFAD, our TİKA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency), and our Ministry of Health, all of them. Together with our non-governmental organizations, they are all continuing their work in a coordinated manner. We will not only heal the wounds there. We will also build the future. For this, we are bringing the wounded to our centers, especially our city hospitals in Ankara, and providing their treatment there. If they want to send them to Istanbul, not Ankara, our city hospitals in Istanbul are also at the service of our brothers and sisters. We are ready to carry out this work there as well.

In recent years, Turkey has been playing an active role in ensuring peace and stability in a very wide geography, from the Caucasus to North Africa, Somalia, the Balkans, and Ukraine. As Turkey, which has made the most sincere initiatives in the last two years under your leadership regarding Gaza, we have also led a ceasefire. How will the process and the subsequent stages in Gaza be shaped from now on?

US President Mr. Trump, Egyptian President Mr. Sisi, Emir of Qatar Mr. Al Thani, and I have implemented a four-party signature application. These signatures we have put are not ordinary. With these signatures, this will for peace has now entered the records of history. If you wish, let us read the text we signed:

"The Trump Agreement for Lasting Peace and Prosperity. We, the undersigned, welcome the historic commitment shown by all parties to the Trump Peace Agreement, which ends more than two years of deep pain and loss and opens a new page defined by a common vision for hope, security, peace, and prosperity for the region, and we welcome the implementation of the agreement. We support and stand behind President Trump's sincere efforts to end the Gaza conflict and bring lasting peace to the Middle East. We will implement this agreement together in a way that will provide peace, security, stability, and opportunity for all peoples in the region, including Palestinians and Israelis. It is our understanding that lasting peace will be a peace where both Palestinians and Israelis can live in prosperity, fundamental human rights are protected, their security is guaranteed, and their dignity is preserved. We emphasize that meaningful progress can only be achieved through cooperation and ongoing dialogue, and that strengthening ties between nations and peoples serves the lasting interests of regional and global peace and stability. We are aware of the deep historical and spiritual importance of this region for faith communities whose roots are intertwined in these lands, including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Respecting these sacred bonds and protecting cultural heritage sites will remain a primary priority of our commitment to peaceful coexistence. We are united in our determination to eradicate all forms of extremism and radicalization. No society can thrive where violence and racism are normalized or where radical ideologies threaten the fabric of civilian life. We commit to addressing the conditions that enable extremism and to supporting education, equal opportunity, and mutual respect as the foundations of lasting peace. On this occasion, we commit to resolving future disputes through diplomatic engagement and negotiation, not through the use of force or prolonged conflict. We are aware that the Middle East can no longer endure the cycle of constant wars, stalled negotiations, or agreements that are successfully negotiated but implemented in a fragmented, incomplete, or selective manner. The tragedies witnessed in the last two years should serve as an urgent warning that future generations deserve better than the failures of the past. We want tolerance, dignity, and equal opportunity for all, ensuring that this region is a place where everyone, regardless of race, faith, or ethnic origin, can pursue their aspirations for peace, security, and economic prosperity. We are pursuing a vision of comprehensive peace, security, and shared prosperity in the region based on the principles of mutual respect and common destiny. With this understanding, we welcome the progress made toward establishing comprehensive and lasting peace arrangements in the Gaza Strip, as well as the friendly and mutually beneficial relationship between Israel and its neighbors in the region. We promise to work together to realize and sustain this legacy by building institutional foundations where future generations can live together in peace. We are committed to a future of lasting peace."

Will the Mehmetçik take part in the task force in Gaza?

Evaluations regarding the structure of the task force are currently ongoing. There is very critical work that needs to be done in Gaza. Both construction and revitalization issues are important. We discussed the issue of "Who can take on a role with us?" regarding construction work. We want and will continue to want support from everyone, from Gulf countries to European countries, especially America. We also discussed the issue of "What can we do together?" regarding revitalization in the bilateral meetings we held with leaders. The initial impressions we received are not bad. They also say, "We will take on our role here." Hopefully, the promises made will be fulfilled.

Our Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, our Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, and our MIT (National Intelligence Organization) President İbrahim Kalın, especially, will meet with their counterparts. I will also be in contact with the leaders. We will focus on "How can we operate this process?" There are tents there right now. I suppose these people cannot live in tents forever. I also told my colleagues, "If necessary, let us send the containers we have to the region," I said. We think that we can provide them with much better facilities with these containers during this winter season. Our AFAD will have shouldered a great burden in this regard. Turkey is on the side of peace and will operate this process accordingly. We are extremely excited about establishing a peace order in Gaza. We will hopefully continue this rapidly. Here, my Minister of Foreign Affairs and my Intelligence President are continuing their meetings with their counterparts in the region. They are continuing their work on what we can do together and how we can do it.

You also emphasized just now that Israel cannot be trusted. Unfortunately, it is not a reliable country. An important threshold has been crossed, and what follows is a more difficult process. If there is a violation in this process, if it attacks again with a new excuse and justification, can a mechanism be established to force Israel to stay in the agreement? What kind of path can be followed with the United Nations Security Council or another formula?

Hopefully, as of now, the clashes in Gaza have ended. It is very, very important that this has been announced by Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump will be the primary follower of this matter. He also expressed this in our meetings with him. As I was leaving, he said in passing, "Let us establish our contacts by phone in this process and let us not neglect this phone diplomacy." We will continue our meetings at every level. This diplomacy we have established with Mr. Trump is very, very important. Hopefully, we will continue this with this sensitivity and we will do whatever is necessary to create a climate of peace. All countries that came together in Egypt will be the guarantors of this climate of peace.

Is this historic summit of a nature that can put a stop to the aggression of this genocidal Israel, its efforts to expand its territory, and these occupying attitudes that we have witnessed for the last two years? In other words, has this historic summit reined in Israel, which has left no place unbombed in the region from Lebanon to Syria? Will it be able to rein it in? Does it carry this quality?

We were at this Summit to finally say "stop" to the Israeli aggression, occupation policies, and ambitions that have been dragging the region into instability for years. Against Israeli terror and show of force, we displayed a stance that defends not only our country's but humanity's conscience. That is why we came to Egypt. The Gaza experience clearly showed Israel that it cannot get anywhere with aggression. Likewise, they saw that Hamas's will to resist was not broken. This is also very, very important. The people of Gaza gave nearly 70 thousand martyrs but did not surrender to occupation, genocide, and barbarism. It is very important. This means that just constantly dropping bombs from the sky everywhere, the attacks you make, do not work. "Faith is that divine jewel, how great it is. A heart without faith is a burden in the chest." This is a different spirit. It is very clear that; Israel cannot achieve any results by occupying its neighbors. As can be seen, the Netanyahu government's effort to associate reactions against genocide with antisemitism has been fruitless here. With the ceasefire, the duty of the international community has not ended, it has just begun. Look at what happened at the United Nations General Assembly? Everyone left the hall, Netanyahu spoke to the seats there. We must continue to stand more strongly with Gaza. We must continue our struggle so that the genocide is not forgotten. We must increase our efforts to hold those responsible accountable. As Turkey, we will continue to be the conscience of all humanity.

Some information has emerged that integration into the Syrian army will begin soon. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also had some contacts. The SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) also held contacts in Damascus. Do you evaluate and think about how soon this integration will take place? What is your expectation? Will integration happen all at once, or will it be a gradual transition process? May I have your thoughts on this?

Our comprehensive contacts with Syria continue in every field and at every level. We are also determined to strengthen close coordination and cooperation to protect the gains of Syria and the region. There is no such thing as leaving Syrian President Mr. Ahmed Shara and his friends alone. We frequently warn the SDF not to resort to wrong paths and to support the unity and integrity of Syria. We hope they will adopt an attitude toward Syria's territorial integrity, being one and together, and reaching a prosperous future. The integration of the SDF with Syria as soon as possible will also accelerate Syria's development moves. We appreciate the Syrian administration's move toward the future with an understanding that encompasses all ethnic and religious elements of the country. This is in the interest of both Syria and Turkey. Those who try to drag Syria back into conflict do not want the good of the Kurds, the Druze, or the Nusayris. As I said in Malazgirt Square, those who turn their direction to Ankara and Damascus will win, those who look for other protectors for themselves will lose.

Can the CHP's call to EP (European Parliament) countries by citing corruption investigations as a reason and organizing a rally in Brussels be evaluated as an effort to damage Turkey's international reputation? Most importantly, is the CHP looking for legitimacy in Europe that it could not win in the eyes of the Turkish nation? There is also another related question. Özel made a threat in Brussels by pointing to some European politicians who did not support them, saying "we are noting them down." How would you evaluate this?

Friends, the CHP does not surprise us. These are things we are used to from the CHP. In the past, it always looked for the response it could not find from its own people in foreign lands. Even the cadres managing the CHP have difficulty understanding what the CHP is doing and what it is planning. The situation they have brought the municipalities to is obvious. It is obvious what they have turned the municipalities into with their incompetence. I said it in Trabzon, they are organizing complaint tours abroad. Can there be such a disgrace? We were actually expecting Mr. Özel to apologize to the European Turks. You know, 2 months ago, their deputies came out and called our expatriates, excuse me, "zırzop" (foolish/idiotic). No explanation or correction came from the CHP management on this matter. Since you went to Brussels, at least apologize for this. Not only did Mr. Özel not show this virtue; he signed a much bigger scandal by having his comrades boo the President of the Republic of Turkey. It is truly a pity. While they are producing words in Brussels, we are producing works in Anatolia. At that time, I was in Rize, and on the other side, I was performing openings in Trabzon. We toured those places for 4 days this weekend. I toured the streams of our Rize, we reviewed all those places, and with my minister friends, we enjoyed those places. We will continue to integrate with our people by constantly touring our country.

With the emergence of corruption in some municipalities, authority debates are on the agenda quite a lot. There is talk of preparations for a regulation to prevent the waste of the nation's money. At what stage is it, what would you like to say about this?

Our laws already have the necessary regulations regarding such corruption, theft, and embezzlement situations. At this point, the moment there is any arrest warrant issued by the judiciary, our judiciary already does what is necessary. This is also in the local administration law. All of these are already illegitimate. Regarding these, the order of the laws is fulfilled at any moment, and we definitely go after them. Because municipalities are the first step of directly serving the nation. These positions exist to serve the nation; not for rent, corruption, or waste.